noun
alcohol drunk with a meal; table wine; dinner drink
Refers to alcoholic beverages consumed during a meal, as opposed to before (aperitif) or after (digestif). Often used in culinary or dining contexts.
このレストランでは、料理に合う食中酒を豊富に取り揃えています。
This restaurant offers a wide selection of drinks to accompany your meal.
食中酒として冷酒を選んだ。
I chose chilled sake as my dinner drink.
Digestif, drunk after a meal to aid digestion.
Compound of 食中 (during a meal) + 酒 (alcohol). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term follows a common pattern for meal-related drink categories.