Yeah man, I've driven through that valley on some surf trips... really tempting to stop for refreshments but that's never been in the game plan. Looks like a fantastic time with your crew!!
I can't remember who told me this, and it's probably just a truism among wine geeks. If you want to know wine, learn everything about French wine. Varieties, terroirs, viticulture, vinification, classification, they've been working at it forever, and in exploring the scope and depth of French wine you also learn everything about your own palate. Similar to a pianist going to conservatory and learning the classical repertoire.
Your old world/new world tastings sound cool. Maybe the first really great wine I ever had was a Clos du Val, which is one of the California wines that beat all the premier cru Bordeaux at the (in)famous 1976 Paris tasting. It got me interested in tasting Bordeaux. But since then I found that my palate really is about Burgundy!