http://bugs.winehq.org/show_bug.cgi?id=8224
------- Additional Comments From bugzilla@blinkenlights.org.uk 2007-24-05 06:16 ------- Lightroom -can- be made to run past the database selection stage.
Create a directory containing a blank file (they can have any name) accessible by programs running in WINE.
When you reach the database creation/opening stage, click Choose, and type the Windows/WINE path to the file just created. Do NOT select the option to check for corruption. Once you've done this, press Return with the database dropdown list focused. If Lightroom doesn't immediately crash at this point, then it likely won't at all.
The GUI once loaded is still sluggish to the point of unusability, so the benefits of having reached this point are questionable - but it works, at least.